Electric shaver



Dec. 27, 1960 H. J. HOBBS ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed NOV. 17, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 HARRY f. HOBBS BYMM Dec. 27,1960 H. J. HOBBS ELECTRICSHAVER Sheets-Sheet 2 .p

Filed Nov. 17, 1958 NVENTOR. HARRY I Hos www@ M ATTORNEY 2,966,512ELECTRIC sHAvER nan-y J. Hobbs', ma lN. Meridian st., Indianapolis, 1nd.Fired Nov. 11, 195s, ser.N0.114,sss 1 3 claims. (ci. 2197-19) Thepresent invention relates to a kmethod of and apparatus for shaving andiinds its primary utility in the removal of hair from the human body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method ofand apparatus for shaving.

It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide an electricshaver capable of giving a closer shave than conventional electricshavers. `Still another object of the present invention is to provide anelectric shaver having no moving parts so as to make construction andmaintenance of the shaver simple and inexpensive.

vA further object of the present invention is to provide a device forthe removal ofhair from the human body which device does not cut,scrape, burn or otherwise irritate the skin of the user.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a relativelylightweight electric shaver.

A further object of the present invention is to provide, in an electricshaver and for the operative portions of the shaver, a guardy which doesnot rub against the skin during shaving thus stopping the irritationwhich results from such rubbing.

Still further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings and inthe steps described in the following specification, attention being'called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only andthe specific procedure described is by way of illustration only, andthat change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated anddescribed and in the specific steps stated, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an electric shaver constructed inaccordance with the present invention and having its casing opened toshow the internal components of the shaver;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shaver of Fig. 1 showing the casingin its normally closed condition;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 3--3'of Fig. 5 inthe direction of the arrows and showing a shaving head forming a part ofthe shaver of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the shaving head of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an electrode assembly forming a portionof the shaving head of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of my basic concept isillustrated in Figs. 1-5 and 7 and comprises a casing indicatedgenerally by the numeral 1G, which is formed in two parts 11 and 12 eachhaving transverse interior ridges 15, 16, 17 and 1S which provide means(threaded bores 19,-19 and bores 23-23) for the reception of screws Ztl-2Q for holding the two parts` nited States Patent O j, 2,966,512Patented Dec. 27, 19,60

of the casing together in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. Each of thetransverse ridges 15-18 is cut back or recessed over a substantialportion of its length as at 21-21 for cooperative engagement with aconventional step-up transformer 22 received in said casing and having acore `25, a primary winding 26 and a secondary winding 27. Aconventional jack 30, having prongs 29-29 for attachment to an electriccord, is xedly mounted within the end of the casing 1l) by means of apair of bolts 31-31 and has one of its poles electrically connected toone side of the primary 26 of the transformer by means of wires 32 and33 through a switch 34. The other pole of the jack 30 is connecteddirectly to the other side of the primary of the transformer by means ofa Wire 35.

A shaving head 40 extends outwardly from the casing 10 and is mountedfiicedly in such a position by means of screws 39-39 which penetrate theridge 17 and thread into the base 45. The shaving head 4d comprises abase 4S, a pair of electrodes 46-46 carried fixedly by the base 45, aguard or shield 47 surrounding the electrodes 46 and end guards 48-48.

The electrodes 46 are each formed with a plurality of aligned. spacedlingers 49-49 projecting therefrom and interdigitated with the lingersof the other of said electrodes. The fingers are so formed and arrangedthat there are provided. between adjacent fingers, spaces which extendperpendicularlv to the direction of alignment of the lingers. Preferablythe spacingr between the adjacent fingers is approximately .C03-.O05inch although such spacing is not critical; the lingers, however, shouldbe spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow hair to enter the spacesbetween the lingers. The electrodes 46 are carried bv and iixedlv spacedfrom the base 45 by means of a dielectric member 50 to which theelectrodes are secured by screws 52-52, the dielectric member Si) beingxed in a spaced relationship to the base 45 by a pair of screws 51-51and by spacing nuts 53-53 received on said screws.

The end guards 48, which are fixed to the base 45 by screws 54, and theguard 47 function to prevent the fingers or other portions of the bodyof a person shaving with the device from contacting or being insertedbetween the electrodes 46. The guard 47 has a cylindrical shape and isso mounted within a hollowed out, part-cylindrical portion 55 in thebase 45 that slots 55-56 in one side of the guard 47 are iust adiacentand registering with the spaces between adjacent lingers 49 of theelectrodes 46. The slots 56 extend in the same direction as the spacesbetween the fingers 49 so that when the guard 47 is contacted with theface and moved thereacross whiskers will nd their way through the slotsand will enter between the fingers 49. The guard 47 may be formed ofdielectric material or of steel and, if formed of dielectric material,might be arranged in Contact with the fingers 49 rather than justadjacent as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so as to give a very close shave. Inthe embodiment of Figs. l-S and 7 the guard 47 is iiXed against rotationby being tightly received within the hollowed out portion 55; however,the guard could alternatively be rotatably mounted by providing asomewhat looser lit of the guard 47 within the hollowed out portion. lnsuch an arrangement the slots 56 would preferably be replaced byperforations such as the perforations 57 of Fig. 6 which Derforationswould preferably be distributed relativelyy uniformly over the entirecylindrical surface.

The transformer 22 is operated to provide a voltage across theelectrodes 46 by electrically connecting its primary winding 26 to aconventional domestic power outlet, the connection being effected by aconventional electric cord (not shown) having a plug at one endproportioned andrarranged for insertion in the power outlet and a plugat the other end proportioned and arranged for connection to the jack30. The secondary winding 27 is electrically connected to the electrodes46 by wires 58-58 each of which is threaded through a respective one ofa pair of passages 59-59 in the base 45 and, therefore, energization ofthe primary winding 26 of the step-up transformer 22 produces a steppedup voltage across the electrodes 46.

It is well known that the voltage available from a domestic poweroutlet, to which the shaver is connected during operation by means ofthe above-mentioned cord (no-t shown), is usually approximately 110volts. Preferably the transformer 22 should be capable of stepping upthis voltage to approximately a value within the range of 500-1000 voltsalthough this range is not necessarily the only one in which the devicewill operate. A shaver which was constructed as above described, with anelectrode finger spacing of .003-.005 inch and a voltage across thesecondary of 600 volts operated effectively and used about 20 milliamps.'At 800 volts (across the secondary) the shaver also operatedeffectively and the current consumption was 30 milliamps.

The shaver is used in a manner similar to conventional electric Shavers,that is, is moved back and forth across the face or other body surfacewith the guard 47 in Contact with the body surface and in suchdirections that the slots 56 are aligned with the directions of movementso that the hair passes through the slots and between the lingers 49 ofthe electrodes where the hair is removed from the surface in what isbelieved to be a burning operation. Even though the hair is presumablyburned off by current fiowing through it from and to the electrodes 46,there is little or no heating up of the electrodes 46, the guard 47 orthe face itself. If the guard 47 is rotatably mounted as abovedescribed, the guard rolls as the shaver moves across the face thuseliminating the usual rubbing action of the guard of an electric shaver.In the rotatable guard device the electrodes operate to remove thewhiskers as above described, the whiskers reaching the spaces betweenthe fingers through the perforations in the wall of the guard.

In order to shave heavier beards a higher voltage may be used across theelectrodes and the spacing between the Aelectrode fingers may beincreased. If desired, means can fbe provided in the device to adjustthe amountrof spacing between the electrode fingers to make possibleachieving the best setting for a light or a heavy beard; and it would bepossible to provide suitable linkage to produce an inverse adjustment ofthe secondary voltage proportionate to such adjustment of electrodespacing.

Referring now to Fig. 6, an alternative embodiment of the invention isshown which is similar to the above described embodiment of Figs. l-5and .7 with the exception that the guard 57 of the device is rotatableas was mentioned with regard to the guard 47 and with the furtherexception that the transformer of the device is mounted in a separatecasing 60. The casing 60 is provided with a pair of electricalconducting male members 61-6l which may be inserted in the sockets of aconventional domestic power outlet to support the casing 60 and toprovide power to the encased transformers primary winding vto which themembers 61 are electrically connected. n n

A power outlet 62 is carried by the transformer casing 60, iselectrically connected to the secondary of the transformer and is formedsimilarly to a conventional domestic power outlet for the reception of apug 65 of an electric cord 64. Instead of the casing 20 of Figs. l and2, the shaver of Fig. 6 is provided with a lightweight, compact handle63 having a switch 67 mounted therein. The end of the cord 64 whichextends into the handle of the shaver is connected by one of its strands`to one of the electrodes of the shaver while the other of its strandsis connected to one side of the switch 67. `l`jhe other of the shaverselectrodes is connected to the other side of the switch 67 by a suitablewire. Thus, when the members 61 are inserted in a power outlet and theplug 65 is inserted in the power outlet 62, a series circuit is providedbetween the electrodes, the switch 67 and the power source; and theswitch 67 may be operated to turn the shaver on or off. The placing ofthe transformer in the casing 60 makes the portion of the shaver whichis held by the hand during the shaving operation lighter and morecompact.

I claim as my invention:

l. A method of shaving comprising receiving a hair between a pair ofspaced electrodes, and applying a potential across said electrodes ofsufficient strength to cause removal of the hair by electrical dischargebetween said electrodes.

2. A method of shaving hair from the surface of a body comprising movinga pair of spaced electrodes across the surface in such a manner that thehair finds its way between the electrodes, and simultaneously applying apotential across said electrodes to cause removal of the hair byelectrical discharge between the electrodes.

3. A method of shaving hair from the surface of a body comprisingspacing a pair of electrodes approximately .003 to .005 inch apart,moving the electrodes across the surface in such a manner that the hairfinds its way between the electrodes, and, simultaneously with saidmoving, applying a potential across said electrodes of approximately 500to 1000 volts to cause removal of the hair by electrical dischargebetween the electrodes.

4. A method of shaving hair from the surface of a body comprising movinga pair of spaced electrodes across the surface in such a manner that thehair finds its way between the electrodes, applying a potential acrosssaid electrodes to cause removal of the hair by electrical dischargebetween the electrodes, and providing a foraminous shield between theelectrodes and the surface for protecting the body.

5. An electric shaver comprising a base, a pair of electrodes carried bysaid base and spaced apart a sufcient distance to allow hair to entertherebetween, and means for applying a sufficient potential across saidelectrodes to produce an electrical discharge therebetween t0 removesuch hair located between said electrodes.

6. An electric shaver comprising a base, a pair of electrodes carried bysaid base, each of said electrodes including a plurality of fingersprojecting therefrom, the fingers 0f each of said electrodes beingspaced from but interdigitated with the fingers of the other of saidelectrodes, the fingers of each of said electrodes being spaced asuliicient distance from the fingers of the other of said electrodes toallow hair to enter between said fingers, and means for applying asufcient potential across said electro-des to produce an electricaldischarge therebetween to move hair located between said fingers.

7. An electric shaver comprising a base, a pair of electrodes carried bysaid base and having portions spaced apart approximately .003 to .005inch for allowing hair to enter therebetween, and means for applying apotential across said electrodes in the range of 500 to 1000 volts toproduce an electrical discharge therebetween for removing hair locatedbetween said electrodes.

8. An electric shaver comprising a base, a pair of electrodes carried bysaidbase and spaced apart a suficient distance to allow hair to entertherebetween, a guard composed of sheet material carried by said baseadjacent to and covering said electrodes, said guard having a pluralityof apertures therein for allowing hair inserted therethrough to bereceived between said electrodes, and means for applying a sutiicientpotential across said electrodes to produce an electrical dischargetherebetween to remove hair located between said electrodes.

9. An electric shaver comprising a base, a pair of electrodes carried bysaid base and spaced apart a sufiicient distance to allow hair to entertherebetween, a ,cylindrical guard composed of sheet material androtatably mounted upon said base surrounding said electrodes, said guardhaving a plurality of perforations for allowing hair insertedtherethrough to be received between said electrodes, and means forapplying a suliicient potential `across said electrodes to produce anelectrical discharge therebetween to remove hair located between saidelectrodes.

10. An electric shaver comprising a base, a pair of electrodes carriedlixedly by said base, each of said electrodes including a plurality ofspaced, aligned fingers projecting therefrom and interdigitated with thefingers of the other of said electrodes, said fingers being so formedand arranged that there are provided, between adjacent lingers, spaceswhich extend perpendicularly to the direction of alignment of saidfingers, a guard of dielectric sheet material mounted on said baseadjacent and covering said fingers and having a plurality of slotstherein extending in the same directions as said spaces whereby theshaver may be moved across a body to be shaved in the direction in whichsaid slots extend and with said guard in contact with said body forcausing hair to be received within said slots and between said fingers,and means for applying a sufiicient potential across said electrodes toproduce an electrical discharge therebetween to remove hair locatedbetween said fingers.

11. An electric shaver comprising a casing, a base mounted on saidcasing so as to extend outwardly therefrom, a pair of electrodes fixedlycarried by said base, each of said electrodes including a plurality offingers projecting therefrom, the fingers of each of said electrodesbeing spaced from but interdigitated with the fingers of the other ofsaid electrodes, the fingers of each of said electrodes being spaced asufficient distance from the fingers of the other of said electrodes toallow hair to enter between said fingers, a step-up transformer receivedin said casing, means connecting said electrodes in series with thesecondary of said transformer, and means for connecting the primary ofsaid transformer in series with a conventional domestic power outlet,said transformer being capable of providing a sufficient potentialacross said electrodes to produce an electrical discharge therebetweento remove hair located between said fingers.

12. An electric shaver comprising a handle, a base mounted upon saidhandle so as to extend outwardly therefrom, a pair of electrodes fixedlycarried by said base, each of said electrodes including a plurality offingers projecting therefrom, the lingers of each of said electrodesbeing spaced from but interdigitated with the fingers of the other ofsaid electrodes, the lingers of each of said electrodes being spaced asufficient distance from the fingers of the other of said electrodes toallow hair to enter between said fingers, means for applying asufiicient potential across said electrodes to produce an electricaldischarge therebetween to remove hair l0- cated between said fingers,and tiexible wiring extending from said handle for connecting saidelectrodes to said potential applying means.

i3. An electric shaver comprising a handle, a base mounted upon saidhandle so as to extend outwardly therefrom, a pair of electrodes fixedlycarried by said base, each of Said electrodes including a plurality offingers projecting therefrom, the fingers of each of said electrodesbeing spaced from out interdigitated with the fingers of the other ofsaid electrodes, the fingers of each of said electrodes being spaced asucient distance from the ngers of the other of said electrodes to allowhair to enter between said fingers, a step-up transformer, a pair ofmale members fixedly associated with said transformer in such a manneras to be insertable in the female sockets of a conventional domesticpower outlet, said male members being electrically connected to theopposite poles of the primary of said transformer, a transformer poweroutlet xedly associated with said transformer and electrically connectedacross the secondary of said transformer, and flexible Wiringelectrically connected to said electrodes and electrically connectibleto said transformer power outlet, said transformer being capable ofproviding a sufficient potential across said electrodes to produce anelectrical discharge therebetween to remove hair located between saidlingers.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

